DIMAPUR, Feb 28 - There are no sanctioned posts of doctors in 23 out of a total of 138 primary health centres (PHCs) in Nagaland, Health and Family Welfare Minister S Pangnyu Phom told the Assembly on Tuesday.
Replying to a starred question by NPF MLA Yitachu on the total number of doctors under the Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department, Pangnyu said 115 doctors are posted in the PHCs. He added the department has created a number of posts to fill up all vacancies in rural areas and framed a roster policy in this regard.
In order to fill up the gaps, the National Health Mission has provided nine specialists, 77 general medical officers, 37 AYUSH medical officers and 18 dental surgeons.
To another starred question by MLA CL John on the status of the sanctioned strength of all the health units, the minister said there are 25 community health centres (CHCs), 138 PHCs, one subsidiary health centre (SHC), two big dispensaries and 559 sub-centres in the rural areas of Nagaland. He referred to the Indian health standards specifying the norms of health units. As per the norms, one sub-centre is sanctioned for every 3,000 people and one PHC for a population of 20,000, the minister said.
Pangnyu admitted that the villages in remote and underserved areas are still not adequately covered as there is an overall shortage of 101 sub-centres in the State.
In order to improve health facilities in the remote and underserved areas, the department under the National Health Mission has expanded the network of health units, he said.
The minister stated that the number of CHCs has been increased from 21 to 25, PHCs from 126 to 138 and sub-centres from 396 to 559 from 2012 till date.
